Rebecca Kerchak
Business Openings are on the rise in Florida

The covid19 pandemic put businesses across the globe into a corner. Companies across the country struggled to keep themselves afloat, and several states in the U.S. had difficulties opening up and resuming business operations. However, Florida was not one of those states. The state of Florida was able to charge through the pandemic and give businesses the confidence that things would get better soon enough. Although the pandemic erased around 15% of small businesses in Florida, business openings rose by about 52% in the second quarter of 2021.

Business Openings are on the rise in Florida
Rebecca Kerchak
A Guide to Building Social Media Marketing ...

Over the last couple of years and especially because of the pandemic, one thing that has become more important than ever before is connection.

We need to be connected to work, play, and essentially live, and social media has proven just how valuable it is for people across the globe. Businesses that once were reluctant to be online in any way had to adapt and most are now thriving online thanks to social media.

If you’re too busy to create a social media strategy that will help your business grow and excel, a social media management agency can easily help you.

A Guide to Building Social Media Marketing Strategy for 2022

Sports

$4 Billion sale

Largest sale in sports history
 

In 2014 former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer became the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. Ballmer would pay a record $2 Billion for the NBA Franchise, most ever for any sport. In 2000 UFC was purchased for $2 million, and in 2016 is now sold for a record $4 Billion dollars. News of the record breaking sale was announced by William Morris Endeavor & International Management Group. The new owners make up a partnership of WME (William Morris Endeavor), IMG (International Management Group), MSD Capital, and KKR global investment firm.The Abu Dhabi government’s Flash Entertainment (Zuffa LLC) still owns 10 percent of UFC. 

Sports

In the last decade UFC has become a global force in the sports world. Last year alone UFC generated an estimated $600 million in revenue while attracting a growing audience of millennials. Millennials make up the most coveted demographic advertisers and TV networks. UFC fights are shown in more than 156 countries and its events are the top sellers on pay-per-view TV.

ESPN HAS SMART PR

In case you haven't heard, Curt Schilling, an ESPN analyst was fired last week. With three World Series rings, 200-plus wins, 3,000+ strikeouts, and most likely on his way to the Hall of Fame, he was one heck of  pitcher, to say the least, but I will say more. 

He has made many comments that have attracted negative press. And yes, there such a thing as negative press. Be careful what you put on Facebook. If you are in the professional world, at all, do not say anything on your social media that you would not say in front of a conference of your top 10 idols.  

“A man is a man no matter what they call themselves. I don’t care what they are, who they sleep with, men’s room was designed for the penis, women’s not so much. Now you need laws telling us differently? Pathetic.” -Curt Schilling

Statements like this should not be made public. It would be rainbows and glitter if they were not said at all, but that is not the world we live in today. Most of us our very opinionated, public and social, yet it is a daily struggle for those fighting for equality and acceptance. 

"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"- who said it?

I think we all know some people that should take this advice, I know my sister wanted to punch me in the face after quoting Thumper a few times. This doesn't mean to keep your opinions to yourself, but feel free to keep the mean and judgmental opinions to yourself. 

How are we supposed to make the world a better place with comments like Schilling?

Words can hurt. 

They can cause people pain, lead to self-harm or even suicide. 

You could be thinking, well it's not that bad, a man is a man, but it should be said this is not the first time Schilling made a chilling comment. There have been many comments relating to xenophobia, homophobia and racism.

ESPN has been criticized,  yelling, “freedom of speech!” and that Schilling being fired is an example of our forever increasing “politically correct culture.”

I do believe in freedom of speech, however, I also believe we should refrain from comments that are hurtful. 

In the case of ESPN, this is negative press, and if you want good pr, this is not the type of press one aims for. Yes, "Freedom of speech!" However, ESPN is not a government agency, it is a private organization and Freedom of speech applies to the government allowing its citizens to say what they want without consequence.

You may still think the comment isn't worth being fired over, but you may have second thoughts if he was on your payroll of one of the largest watched networks.

Is the statement controversial? without a doubt. 

ESPN made a good PR move, and I have a theory. 

I bet somewhere in that contract with ESPN, it says to shy from controversial statements on social media. 

I back up this theory with evidence. 

Remember that string of domestic violence incidents last year? Bill Simmons and Keith Olbermann were canned after criticizing the NFL for not doing enough. 

Even though I am completely against domestic violence, this goes to show, if you ever get signed with ESPN, try not to have any opinions, or at least, try not to say them out loud, hence why I do not work for ESPN, that being the only reason.

espn